EDEN BDM have developed a new battery architecture that aims to solve the problem of efficiently storing surplus power from solar cells, while it would also allow the development of cheaper electric powered vehicles (EPV) with an extended driving range.

November 25, 2013

More efficient solar cells and electric car batteries are on the horizon, thanks to the work of Scientists from EDEN BDM Limited, in residence at the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication (MCN). EDEN BDM have developed a new battery architecture that aims to solve the problem of efficiently storing surplus power from solar cells, while it would also allow the development of cheaper electric powered vehicles (EPV) with an extended driving range.

The EDEN nanoflow battery is believed to be the world's first microfluidics battery using a miniaturised electrolyte flow battery design. In a flow battery, the electrolytes are charged and discharged in a cycle that is repeated thousands of times, meaning that they can be discharged down to zero charge at every cycle without suffering damage.

Other major advantages of the EDEN nanoflow battery are that they do not heat up and do not contain environmentally unsound materials, making them one of the safest battery designs for EPVs. Furthermore, they are able to be recharged from the recovered energy of the moving car, meaning that future cars will not need to stop to be externally recharged, giving them the potential to reach unlimited mileage.

The method used to collect and store this energy comes from a vitreous catalyst constructed from nanoparticles. Approximately 170 microfluidic chips containing this catalyst are combined to create a larger battery, weighing just 2 kilograms. Six of these batteries provides enough energy to power a small EPV and the combined weight is just 1.2% of a conventional EPV battery.

MCN is Australia's largest research cleanroom and leaders in nanofabrication innovation.